Exclusive: Kevin Phillips claims ‘standout’ West Brom player is destined for the PL
We’re delighted to welcome former West Brom striker Kevin Phillips as our exclusive columnist. Each week he’ll be giving his views on the biggest talking points at The Hawthorns…
Kevin Phillips believes that Matheus Pereira is destined to play in the Premier League after impressing at The Hawthorns since his move there in the summer.
Pereira, 23, joined Albion on an initial loan deal from Sporting CP but his move to the Black Country is set to become permanent very soon.
The Express & Star has reported that once the Brazilian has made 30 Championship appearances for West Brom, it will trigger a clause in his deal that would officially make him a Baggies player.
Albion paid a £725,000 loan fee for Pereira and will spend a further £8.25million to make the deal permanent.
If what Phillips has said is anything to go by then the Brazilian attacker is bound to be a superb investment for West Brom.
“Yeah, well he is,” Phillips told West Brom News when asked if Pereira is destined for the Premier League. “I think [Grady] Diangana is as well.
“They’re two fantastic signings that have made a huge difference to West Brom and in the Championship, you have to get that balance right – you need playmakers but you also need some experience, someone that’s going to put a shift in.
“These two boys do work hard, but you need that little bit of quality and Pereira this season has probably been the standout player in the Championship.
“Combined with his goals, his creativity, he’s a top player.”
Pereira is set to feature against Millwall this weekend after serving a three-match ban for elbowing Stoke’s Joe Allen in January.
If he plays against Gary Rowett’s side then Pereira will be making his 27th Championship appearance for Albion.
That means that he could officially become a Baggies player after the clash against Bristol City at Ashton Gate on February 22.
Pencil that date in your diary, West Brom fans.
In other West Brom news, fans slammed this senior player for his performance against Luton.